There are reports indicating that Pakistani authorities have taken some steps to mitigate the impact of the virus on the country’s prison population, which includes non-citizen detainees imprisoned under the 1946 Foreigners Act. The government has suspended visits to penitentiaries and court hearings. On 16 March, the Sindh provincial government began screening inmates and prison […]
Asia-Pacific
Thailand: Covid-19 and Detention
Despite severe overcrowding characterizing Thailand’s immigration detention facilities, the GDP has been unable to find any reports indicating that authorities have taken steps to protect, or release, immigration detainees. While the country has drafted measures which remove the need for foreign tourists, stuck in the country due to airline cancellations, to apply for visa extensions, […]
Indonesia: Covid-19 and Detention
Although immigration detention is no longer emphasized in Indonesia, reports suggest that refugees and asylum seekers in the country face a dire situation as it is impossible to keep any social distance as many share rooms in cramped apartments and those accommodated in IOM-operated sites live in severely overcrowded conditions. In addition, with no “rights […]
Papua New Guinea Immigration Detention Data Profile (2020)
Papua New Guinea Detention Data (2020) The latest detention-related data from Papua New Guinea, including immigration and detention-related statistics, domestic laws and policies, international law, and institutional indicators. View the Papua New Guinea Detention Data Profile Related Reading: Papua New Guinea: Country Page Papua New Guinea: COVID-19 Updates Papua New Guinea: International Law […]
Republic of Korea (South Korea): Covid-19 and Detention
The Republic of Korea took aggressive action early on in the Covid-19 outbreak to limit the progress of the coronavirus, including adopting strict border control and immigration detention measures. On 1 April, the government adopted a rule that requires all overseas arrivals—including South Koreans—to quarantine at home or at government-designated facilities for two weeks. Reports […]
Bangladesh: Covid-19 and Detention
There are critical concerns about the risk of infection spreading uncontrollably in the overcrowded camps and other facilities used to house the some one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Human rights groups issued a joint letter on 1 April commending the government “for working closely with the humanitarian community on COVID-19 preparedness and response in […]
Papua New Guinea: Covid-19 and Detention
On 19 March 2020, authorities announced that penal institutions have been placed in quarantine. New prisoners are tested upon their entry and visits are suspended until further notice. Prisons were then placed in isolation from 24 March 2020 onwards and detainees or staff members that have Covid-19 symptoms will be placed in isolation and suspected […]
Australia: Covid-19 and Detention
1,100 Australian healthcare professionals have co-signed a letter to the Home Affairs Minister, Peter Dutton, calling for all refugees and asylum seekers to immediately be released from immigration detention. “Failure to take action to release people seeking asylum and refugees from detention will not only put them at greater risk of infection and possibly death,” […]
Nepal Immigration Detention Data Profile (2020)
Nepal Detention Data (2020) The latest detention-related data from Nepal, including immigration and detention-related statistics, domestic laws and policies, international law, and institutional indicators. View the Nepal Detention Data Profile Related Reading: Nepal: Country Page Nepal: COVID-19 Updates Nepal: International Law […]
Taiwan, Province of China: Covid-19 and Detention
Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency (NIA) announced the start of a three-month amnesty programme from 1 April until 30 June 2020. This programme is for foreign nationals who have overstayed their visas, allowing them to pay smaller fines and avoid detention should they report to immigration authorities during the grace period. The maximum penalty will be […]
